Linda Thompson’s Offensive Dinking Tips: Senior pickleball coach Linda Thompson is teaching players how to turn dinking into an offensive strategy that keeps opponents off balance. By mastering the art of offensive dinking, players can move their opponents around the court, creating opportunities to end rallies and win points. Thompson, a US Open gold medalist, has decades of experience in competitive pickleball and is sharing her insights in a new video series.
Thompson’s lesson focuses on using dinks as a weapon to control the pace of the game. In pickleball, dinking is a soft shot that lands in the kitchen area, and it’s usually used to keep the ball in play.
However, Thompson emphasizes that players can make dinking an aggressive tactic by using it to move opponents to the edges of the court, opening up space for a finishing shot.
The Art of Moving the Opponent
Thompson demonstrates how to make your dinks work for you by moving the opponent from side to side. The key is to avoid predictable dinks and instead use them to get the opponent off balance.
“Take them over there, take them over there, boom!” Thompson says, showing how quick, strategic dinking can force an opponent into a bad position and create an opening for an easy winner.
She stresses the importance of staying in position after every shot and reacting quickly. For example, by hitting a dink out of the air and not allowing the opponent time to recover, players can take control of the point.
This movement requires good footwork and anticipation, which Thompson highlights as vital to mastering offensive dinking.
Crosscourt Dinking for Greater Control
Thompson also discusses the benefits of crosscourt dinking, which she calls a more effective tactic. Since players have a larger area to work with when dinking diagonally across the court, they can be more aggressive.
“From this corner to that corner is almost 23 feet, which gives you more margin for error.” – (Thompson)
Crosscourt dinks not only allow for more aggressive shots but also help players cover more ground while forcing opponents to move quickly. Thompson notes that good lateral movement is key to making this strategy work. If a player can’t move fast enough, they will be caught out of position, giving the opponent an easy chance to win the point.
Patience and Strategy
Thompson reminds players that offensive dinking requires patience. “If I’m playing against a good consistent dinker, it’s going to take longer,” she says, explaining that controlling the pace of the game is a slow process.
She also advises that players focus on their opponent’s movement. If an opponent isn’t quick to move laterally, they will likely get caught out with a few quick dinks in different directions.
News in Brief: Linda Thompson’s Offensive Dinking Tips
Linda Thompson, a senior pickleball coach and US Open gold medalist teaches players how to turn dinking into an offensive weapon. By moving opponents around the court and using crosscourt dinks, players can control the pace and create opportunities for winners. Thompson emphasizes patience, footwork, and strategic play to master this technique for competitive success.
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